Western Conference Playoffs - Round 2: Flames vs Ducks (Ducks win 4-1)

[UKflames]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I'm sure there was a bit of fatigue going on, but in that respect, the round two schedule could not possibly have worked better for us. Four days off between rounds one and two, then two full days between games 1 and 2. Then two days before game 3 or before game 4. There is a lot of recovery time built into the first half of this series, and I think that helps us more than them.

Good point there has been plenty of rest time between rounds and the games of round 2 are pretty spread out but you still cannot expect the top 4 to keep playing the type of minutes that they have before it bites. The conditioning coach has certainly earned his loonies this year.

[Otto-matic]

Gonna check out Flames Central tomorrow, any idea how bad the lineup is before the game?

[azzarish]

On paper the task looks daunting. Throughout their lineup the Ducks have skill, size, and strength. It’s quite a team they’ve built there.

Not having Giordano and Bouma may begin to finally catch up with us. You want to pit your best lineup against their best lineup when you’re playing such a good team. If you think how we’ve been essentially playing 4 D and a bit of a 5th you begin to think what it would have been like to have Giordano in this series and how their big strong forwards are going to be matched with pretty much 4 of our D. It’s a tough task. Bouma’s loss is huge as well, and although Ferland has been a sensation imagine having both of them against a big and physical team like the Ducks. I’m still holding out hope that Bouma can return at some point in this series.

Saying this, it was supposed to have been a fun ride while it lasted when we were mired that 8 game losing streak. We continued to hang in there at which point Giordano went down; again it was a fun ride while it lasted. We continued to win games without Giordano. After that, we weren’t supposed to beat the Kings because they were fighting for their playoff lives and they were the Stanley Cup champions and again it was supposed to be a fun ride while it lasted. We qualify for the playoffs and we’re to play Vancouver and again the same mentality sets in, it was just great to get in and it was a fun ride while it lasted. And now here we are drawn against the Ducks, and yet again we’re hearing it was a fun ride while it lasted.

All season long this team has proved that they aren’t just here for a fun ride. They’ve been defying the odds and the experts all season. Nobody really expected us to beat the Wings and Sharks in 2004; we went in to both series as huge underdogs but somehow prevailed. We have actually beaten them twice this season which some people seem to forget. One of those was a 6-3 win without Giordano. One of the losses was a 6-3 reverse with Giordano actually in the lineup.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that if we can somehow get a split in the first 2 games we have a great chance to win the series.

[CroFlames]

@ Azzarish

More than once I wished we had Bouma & Gio back during the Canucks series. Particularly the times when we were hemmed in our own zone. I.e.: The Shift (Derek Engelland's now famous 3:22 shift).

I'm afraid that we'll be missing those two even more in this series.

But I'm with you, we defied odds all year. What's one more series? Bob has got a special and rare attitude going on in that room and it's evident. Anything can happen at this point.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Gonna check out Flames Central tomorrow, any idea how bad the lineup is before the game?

I think it's pretty much booked solid for the playoffs (they take resos). I'm sure they leave some room for 'first come first serve' but you'd have to get there hours and hours before puck drop. Honestly...there's better places to go IMO.

[Galakanokis]

Will be looking for a place downtown Vancouver tomorrow to watch the game if any other Van Flames fans are interested. Looking like 4 or 5 of us so far heading somewhere.

[flamesrule_kipper34]

FYI Flames Central is NOT showing game 1, some corporate conflict.

Only games 2 and on...

[Vansmack]

Is there any chance that we will get Hrudey/Ball back for round 2? I $*(#ing hate Hughson/Simpson or whoever it is with him. I'm guessing the answer is no, but it would be a nice treat for Hrudey/Ball and flames fans.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Vansmack

Is there any chance that we will get Hrudey/Ball back for round 2? I $*(#ing hate Hughson/Simpson or whoever it is with him. I'm guessing the answer is no, but it would be a nice treat for Hrudey/Ball and flames fans.

Ball done for the playoffs after tonight apparently.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Property Manager DB

Not the worst schedule... I know it's only a half hour but I prefer the 7:30 starts over the 8 for home games.

yeah its a small change but means the world to me too

writing game stories when you get home at 11.30 or so is painful, I'll take the 30 minutes

might get me in bed before "Tomorrow"!

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Galakanokis

Will be looking for a place downtown Vancouver tomorrow to watch the game if any other Van Flames fans are interested. Looking like 4 or 5 of us so far heading somewhere.

I lived in Van for a while and the best place I found to watch games was Shark Club outside of GM Place.

I only went there on gamedays though, but still.

[MotoRacer]

Watch game 1 and 2 in person
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?p=5275875

[azzarish]

Originally Posted by UKflames

What worries me the most is that we a really only rolling with 2 D pairings for the vast majority of games, the 3rd pairing of Schlemko and Wotherspoon are seeing really low minutes. That is going to really wear down our top two pairings as this round goes on, especially against the heavy hitting Ducks. Bob needs to start having a little more confidence in that third pairing or we are going to see more mistakes due to fatigue from our top two D lines.

I would love it if Wotherspoon somehow emerged as a guy who we could rely on playing a few more mins and just having another big body out there against those big forwards on the Ducks. Russell, Brodie and Wideman are smart and great at what they do but none are really that physical. I just don't want our D to get beat up.

However, with the Ducks they'll engage in whatever type of game we want to play. So, if we go hard with the hits they'll do that too, but if we don't they probably won't either.

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I lived in Van for a while and the best place I found to watch games was Shark Club outside of GM Place.

I only went there on gamedays though, but still.

Never been a huge fan of the Shark Club, it's ok but haven't been in a few years. Will probably end up at the Pint on Abbott. $4 pints are hard to ignore but it is not the greatest place to watch games I find. Just gauging interest from others, PM if you want to get together.

[metal_geek]

Originally Posted by azzarish

I would love it if Wotherspoon somehow emerged as a guy who we could rely on playing a few more mins and just having another big body out there against those big forwards on the Ducks. Russell, Brodie and Wideman are smart and great at what they do but none are really that physical. I just don't want our D to get beat up.

However, with the Ducks they'll engage in whatever type of game we want to play. So, if we go hard with the hits they'll do that too, but if we don't they probably won't either.

I can't help but think if Wotherspoon scored on that chance he had from the slot, he may have been given a little bit longer leash. My first though when he drew in the lineup is I really hope he's this years Mike Commodore....

[Red Menace]

I wonder if Ferland would have even played if Bouma had been healthy?..seems obvious now that he should have, but I'm not so sure he would have....might have been a different series.
Sure would be nice to have both in the lineup.

[handgroen]

[handgroen]

[jg13]

Originally Posted by flamesrule_kipper34

FYI Flames Central is NOT showing game 1, some corporate conflict.

Only games 2 and on...

Game 4 will also not be showing the game there is a concert happening that night and the production for the show will take more than 6 hours to put together.

[Galakanokis]

Originally Posted by metal_geek

I can't help but think if Wotherspoon scored on that chance he had from the slot, he may have been given a little bit longer leash. My first though when he drew in the lineup is I really hope he's this years Mike Commodore....

The Flames really need a 6th D man to step up. Can't have the top 4 playing those types of minutes on a regular basis, they will wear down too fast. I also expect a few OT games in this series so there will be added minutes there.

I'm hoping Wotherspoon can figure it out but it is coming on a little too slowly for my liking.